Test of epstein-barr virus (EBV) as a cause of arthritis in the DOD and VA

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) awarded Cincinnati Education & Research For Veterans Foundation, Inc. (operating as Cerv) a $716,524 project grant under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) to conduct research investigating Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) as a potential cause of arthritis in Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs populations. The three-year research initiative, commencing September 15, 2025 and concluding September 14, 2028, will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio. This project represents a hypothesis-driven biomedical research effort aligned with the DHA's mission to transform healthcare for service members and veterans through innovative medical solutions addressing critical health challenges.

The research deliverables will include scientific investigation and analysis of potential linkages between EBV infection and arthritis development in military and veteran populations, with anticipated outputs including research findings, biomarker analysis, and clinical insights relevant to military health priorities. Cerv will leverage its established network of academic and research institution collaborators, including the University of Cincinnati and other prestigious medical centers, to execute this translational research project. The award reflects the program's investment in hypothesis-driven investigations utilizing the DHA's two-tier competitive review process, which evaluates both technical merit and military relevance of proposed research initiatives.